Voyeur

We went around almost the entire classroom before she finally spoke. Her voice was soft and seemed to reach across the space between us as if to stroke against my skin.

“I’m Oaklyn Derringer, and I’m majoring in biology with the intention of going into physical therapy.”

“And your age?” I felt like everyone would know why I was asking, would be able to hear the slight tremble in my voice, and I fought the blood rushing to my cheeks down.

“Duh. Forgot that part,” she said with a laugh. “I just turned nineteen. I’m a freshman.”

Freshman.

Nineteen.

The flush that had threatened me moments before was no longer an issue. All the blood seemed to have left my body. The next three student’s answers were blocked by the ringing in my ears. Their smiles and faces unseen as I stared at nothing, trying to make myself breathe.

A freshman. I’d jacked off to a fucking nineteen-year-old freshman. My stomach turned, and guilt seemed to fight a path through me. But watching her walk out of my class once I’d dismissed them, remembering her dusky peaked nipples on her perky breasts, the guilt evaporated, replaced by desire and need.

I didn’t trust myself. I needed to avoid her as much as I could. I was sure I could handle seeing her in class only. But I had to avoid her at Voyeur. Maybe I’d explain the situation to Daniel and have him tell me when she wasn’t working.

The easy solution would be to just not go back, but I needed Voyeur too much to stop going.

It would be fine. I would just keep reminding myself of her age and that she’s my student and I’d resist.

It would all be fine.

6

Oaklyn

I will survive this.

That was going to be my mantra for the next few months. I’d worked late at Voyeur last night, then had classes, and now I was shoving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my mouth as I hauled ass across campus to the physics department. It was my first day there and I’d feel like a giant tool being late. Especially since I was only added on last minute by the grace of the worker in the bursar’s office.

Second day of classes and it already felt overwhelming, but I had to remember that it would even out, and I’d get used to the crazy schedule.

As I opened the large door to the cream stone building, I had to wonder if I’d run into Dr. Pierce. I couldn’t help but think about him. Remember the intensity of his light blue eyes, even more startling under the almost black hair, as he’d seemed to stare a hole right through me. I’d tried to ignore it, telling myself I was imagining things and he gave the same look to all his students, but it seemed impossible not to feel it.

A part of me had begun to wonder if I had something on my face. I’d even turned to ask Olivia, and she’d looked at me like I’d grown a third eye before quickly shifting her attention back to Dr. Pierce. Not that I could blame her. He was extraordinarily attractive and young and not at all what I’d expected going into the first class of my second semester. I couldn’t help but wonder why he was a teacher, but immediately shut it down, feeling silly for thinking that someone so attractive should be living a bigger life.

He’d seemed to have a passion for the topic as he’d explained some of the things we’d cover. It made his intensity all the more distracting. At least the class would hold my attention if for no other reason than I’d like staring at his lips move as he spoke.

I almost hoped I didn’t see him in the department while I was scheduled to work. That way I wouldn’t have to face what might be developing into a silly crush on a far superior specimen—my professor.

With a smile on my face, I shook off my thoughts and pushed open the door to the main physics office. A heavy-set woman with white hair and a sweet smile greeted me from behind a desk.

“Hello. How can I help you, sweetheart?”

“Hi. I’m Oaklyn Derringer. I’m here to work as the student aide this semester.”

“Oh, of course.” She got up from behind her desk and walked around to greet me. “I’m Donna, the secretary for the department. Why don’t you set your stuff right here by my desk and I can show you around and introduce you.”

It was a fairly short tour. Only a small hallway on one side with three rooms, one of which was a conference room, and then another exit. On the other side was the dean of physics office, and in the middle of the two was the secretary’s desk in a small waiting area that held about four chairs and a plant.